Self-guided cycling holiday on Terceira

When the Beagle docked in Angra do Heroismo on its return journey from the Galapagos Islands, Darwin couldn’t resist exploring the island of Terceira. You’ll follow in Darwin’s footsteps on two wheels, during a self-guided cycling holiday on Terceira, riding the Darwin Trail in the company of our local cycling guide and seeing all the beautiful landscape has to offer.  Spanning 8 days, you’ll visit the stunning coastline and dramatic interior of  the Terceira island in the Azores.

Your self-guided cycling holiday begins in the historic town of Angra, the first settlement in the Azores to be granted city status due to its significance as a maritime hub for ships sailing between Europe, the West Indies and the Americas. The city suffered considerable damage during a major earthquake on New Year’s Day 1980 – repairs where completed by the end of 1983 and the city was awarded UNESCO status.

Having explored the Darwin Trail with our guide, you’ll then complete a three day, self-guided cycling holiday throughout the island.

There’s also time away from cycling, with a visit to the Algar do Carvao, a unique 3000 year old volcanic chimney which was formed by two major eruptions (1000 years apart), when the island was still volcanically active.

You’ll also spend a day with our local guide exploring the Reserva Florestal Natural Parcial do Biscoitos da Ferraria on foot: a protected reserve at the centre of the island. 20% of the island is classified as a protected Natural Park, with the aim of conserving what remains of the island’s Laurel Forests. Laurels were once common across mainland Europe before disappearing naturally due to glaciation.

Terceira provides a glimpse of how the islands of the Azores must have looked when the first settlers arrived, before the Laurel forests here were also (almost) destroyed.  A self-guided cycling holiday is the optimum way to view the beauty this area offers.